Updated

Tom Brady is hardly accustomed to this.

The New England quarterback is leading a 5-2 team into a pivotal matchup Sunday against the Miami Dolphins (3-3), but the Patriots' record hardly reflects their offensive struggles.

While Brady is working with a relatively new and youthful cast of receivers, and his favorite target made his season debut just last week, New England's offense clearly isn't as feared or fluent as it once was.

Third downs are becoming a significant hurdle. Third-quarter play is declining. Red zone efficiency ranks near the bottom of the league.

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